Old timer trams offer at Long Night of the Museums

The Friends of the Railway Club (VEF- Verband der Eisenbahnfreunde) are offering visitors to the "Long Night of the Museums" the opportunity to travel using one of the old-timer trams.

The "Rolling Museum" tram will be operating between 6 o'clock in the evening and 1 o'clock in the morning on the night from the 6 to 7 October travelling round the ring and available for anyone with a "Long Night of the Museums" ticket.

The association is a voluntary organisation and any money earned is used for the purchase and restoration of vintage vehicles.

This year is the 13th time it will be possible to visit 121 Viennese museums with a single ticket during the "Long Night of the Museums".

Many of the museums will be offering access to parts of their collections not usually on public view including the Palais Liechtenstein. Here conducted tours include early renaissance to the baroque times. Artists such as Peter Paul Rubens, Rembrandt, Anthonis van Dyck and Raffael are part of the display..

Also on show is the most valuable piece of furniture in the world - the so-called "Badminton Cabinet" purchased by Dr. Johan Kraeftner, the Director of the Liechtenstein Museum, on behalf of Prinz Hans-Adam II of Liechtenstein for 19,045,250 pounds (36,662,106 Dollars) in December 2004 in London.

And some museums like the Police Museum of Vienna in the Marokkaner Kaserne will be open to the public for the first time in many years.

Other treats include the newly renovated Klimt-Villa in Hietzing that will be on view in the offer for the first time. He worked there from 1912 until his death in 1918.

Last year 191,000 people took part in the event.

From 6:00 pm to 1:00 am, participating museums offer such highlights as workshops, readings, and special guided tours as well as live music, magic shows, special children’s programs, and culinary delights all with the the special ticket.

It is possible to visit all museums as often and as long as you like, and a bus shuttle (price included in the ticket) takes you from one museum to the next.

Tickets can be obtained at all participating museums. The price for a ticket is 12 Euro, reduced price 10 Euro. Admission for children less than twelve years of age is free.

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